t was Wednesday morning in Barangay Patag and
Habal-habal driver Victorino Barangot had just
unloaded his two passengers from the town. A few minutes after
a break, he gets a cue from a group of municipal social workers
who just finished their meeting at the barangay center. It’s time
for his next trip back to the town.
“Sa
una
matapulan
kag
pamasahero ug balik balik tungod
sa kalisud sa dalan. Karun, ok na
ang dalan, bahalag magbalik balik
kada minuto,(Before, it felt so
unenergetic and tiring to transport
passengers because of the bad
road. Now that the road
is good, I don’t mind
making several trips
back and forth”
says Victorino,
a resident of
Barangay

Patag, town of Opol, the site of the
9.10 kilometer Opol-Basak-Tingalan
provincial road rehabilitated by the
Provincial Government of Misamis
Oriental with support from Australia
through the Philippine Provincial
Road Management Facility.
Victorino, a habal-habal driver
for ten years, has seen his life
change since the gravel road was
rehabilitated. His trips that took
hours during the rainy season have
been cut to 30 minutes.
The new road replaced a dirt
pathway traders and farmers used
to haul produce such as copra,
banana and corn from their farm to
Friday, March 23, 2012

ONE MINDANAO

4

the market
Until April last year, small
traders and commuters from Patag
and neighboring barangays of
Basak and Tingalan had to cancel
their trips to the town during heavy
rains to avoid accidents that come
with muddy and slippery roads. It
was also difficult to transport bulky
goods as the habal-habal, a single
motorcycle, was the only available
public utility vehicle.
Today, vehicle and commuter
traffic has dramatically increased.
The improved road condition
has
lowered
vehicle
maintenance cost for
single
motorcycles,
bringing a growth
in the number of
Patag motor
operators
from
3 0

to 100. From just
five trips a day,
habal-habal drivers
are now maintaining
an average of 20 trips
daily.
The village now has additional
means of public transport such as
jeepney, bus, and motorized pedicab
locally known as “bunlot.”
“Sa una, normal ra nang mabara
sa lapok panahon sa ting-ulan. Pero
sa una ra na. (Before, it was normal
for us to get stuck in the mud during
rainy season but that is now a thing
of the past)”, says Victorino. “Sukad
bag-o na ang kalsada, mu-income
nako ug 300 hundred kada adlaw
unya tama ra ni para sa among
panginahanglan (Since the road was
rehabilitated, I’m now earning P300
a day which is enough for my family’s
basic needs).”
With the sustained earnings
from driving, he said he and his wife
are happy as they can now keep
their children in school.

Friday, March 23, 2012

ONE MINDANAO

5

A boon to Agribusiness
As the road rehabilitation
was bound to boost movement of
people, goods and services, several
new agribusinesses have started
to pop up in Patag according to
Punong Barangay Hermito Laid,
Jr.
Eighty percent of Patag’s
total land area is devoted to
agriculture and the rehabilitation
of the village’s main street has
encouraged farmers to boost their
income from farming through
vegetable gardening.
Cottage industries such as
piggery, poultry, asphalt plant,
banana chips processing, mat
weaving and bag manufacturing
have also sprouted in the village.
“Ngalan kay agricultural land,
mahimo gyud nga babag sa ilang
panginabuhian, ilabi na sa pagdeliver sa mga produkto kung maot
ang kalsada so maayo gani nga
naay Australian aid para magwapo
ang kalsada. Ug sigun pa sa atong
mga katawhan, murag ug ang
ilang damgo nga dugay nang
gidamgo karun pa intawn
natuman
(Since it
is an agricultural
area,
having
poor roads
can really

hamper
livelihood
activities. It’s good
that
there’s
an
Australian project that
has helped improve
the roads. According to
them, it was like a dream
come true),” says Hermito, adding
that more than 100 residents in
Patag were employed as labourers
during the road construction.
Forty four year old food vendor
Dionisia Gloria has gotten a boost
in earnings since the road was
repaired. She said more and more
customers, mostly commuters,
school children and habal-habal
drivers drop by her stall located
along the road for food take-out.
“Sa una, daut kaayo ang
kalsada. Karun chada na. Daghan
na customer nga mga bata ug habal
habal drayber (Before, the road
was really bad. Now it’s good. I
get more customers, mostly school
children and motorcycle drivers),
”said Dionisia, adding
t h a t

Friday, March 23, 2012

ONE MINDANAO

6

her daily routine of buying food
ingredients from the central market
in Opol has also been made easy
with the new road.
Comfort for mothers, teachers,
school children
For road users in Patag and its
neighboring barangays, the road
is a vital piece of infrastructure
that has not only brought huge
economic benefits and opportunities
to the community but also helped
ease emergency situations in the
village.
“Sa una kadtong nanganak
akong binadye, balibaran ka ug taxi
ug motor uy pero karun sayun na
lang makasakay kay maayo na man
ang dalan busa pasamalat gyud mi.
Maong kami sa womens, nitabang
gyud mig amping sa dalan (Before,
when my daughter in law was about
to give birth, taxi and motorcycle
drivers refuse to bring her to the
hospital due to the bad road. Now
that the road has improved, it has
become easy for us to get public
vehicles especially during
emergencies and that is
why we in our Women’s
group
are
really
doing our share
to
maintain
the road,”
s a y s

Silorma
Jabunan,
president
of
Patag
Women’s
Association.
Patag
Rural
health midwife Marivic
Anora said the village had
seen a few cases of maternal deaths
due to complications and other
pregnancy-related causes. She said
these deaths, which occurred during
emergency childbirth at home, could
have been avoided if the road was
in better condition.
“Sa una naa gyuy kaso namo
nga mortality sa pagpanganak kay
walay makatabang. Karun, amo nang
gina-brainwash ang mga mama nga
wala nay manganak sa balay kay
accessible na man ang dalan (In the
past, there were cases of deaths
from emergency childbirth. Now we
are educating the mothers not to
give birth at home since the road
is already accessible,” says Marivic,
adding that the road has helped
encourage women to give birth in
the hospital.
She also noted that more
residents from

Friday, March 23, 2012

ONE MINDANAO

7

the far flung communities have been
able to access the barangay’s prenatal, immunization, consultation
and family planning services.
For public school teachers in
Patag, the new road helps motivate
children to go to school even during
rainy season.
“Sa una, maka-absent sila
kung ting-ulan. Karun, maski magulan, makasulod ra sila unya dili na
ma-late. Naa na sila diri as early
as 7:30 before the flag ceremony.
Una pa sila sa mga teacher (Before,
some students are absent in class
during rainy days. Now, even with
the rains, they are able to attend
classes and avoid tardiness. Kids
are in school as early as 7:30 before
the morning flag ceremony. They
arrive ahead of the teachers.) says
Teacher Risty Cabaling of Patag
Elementary School.
Risty, also a resident of Patag,
said it has become easy for him to
reach the school by commuting on
the road, giving him more lead time
to prepare for class exercises and
activities.
Caring for the Road

organized a Bantay
Kalsada, the village’s
road maintenance
and
monitoring
group
tasked
to
enforce a barangay
ordinance
regulating
activities that create damage to the
roads.
Barangay police Bartolome
Jaudian said Bantay Kalsada was
organized immediately after the
road was completed in April last
year and has since been conducting
regular road monitoring and cleanup of the road canals.
Patag is composed of nine
zones, each of which has a
Bantay
Kalsada
member
that
monitors compliance with the road
maintenance ordinance.
“Tinguha namo nga hapsay
gyud ang dagan sa karsada unya
pugngan pud namo ang mga tao nga
maghimo ug kadautan sa kalsada.
Ampingan gyud nato ni kay mao
ni atong agianan unya hangtud
hangtud na gyud ni, di na gyud ni
siya mawala (It is our role
to ensure the

To sustain the
benefits of the
road,
men
and women
in Patag
have

Friday, March 23, 2012

ONE MINDANAO

8

roads are safe and well maintained
by stopping erring road users. We
really should take care of our roads
so that the benefits last a lifetime,”
says Bartolome.
Zone 2 leader Annie Jabunan
also noticed that since the road was
rehabilitated, the value of land in
Patag has appreciated from P100 to
P1000 per square meter.
“Dagko na kaayog presyo ang
yuta diri dili pariha sa una walay
mupalit kay daut ang kalsada (Value
of land has really increased unlike
before when nobody would want to
buy a land here because of the bad
road),” says Annie. “Busa magbantay
gyud ko nga dili maabusohan ang
kalsada. Amo gyud paga-ampingan
ni kay gigastuan gud ni sa Australia
(That is why we are committed to
ensure no abuses on the road. We
will take care of it because Australia
has invested so much in it).”
Annie said they have recorded
a number of road violations since
the group was organized. The local
ordinance prohibits heavy trucks
and loading of bamboo poles
and steel bars that extend
to the surface of the road
as these will leave pot
holes and ripples
during
heavy
rains.
She
explains
t h a t

repetitive
passage
of heavy vehicles
causes the road to
break down.
“Amo
silang
i-seminar unya karun
magbantay
na
gyud
sila. Ila na alsahon ilang kawayan
o puthaw usa muagi sa kalsada
(We educate them so that they will
learn. Now, whenever they transport
their goods, they lift their bamboo
poles and steel bars to make sure
that they do not touch the surface
of the road),” says Annie. She said
the road has made their lives a lot
better now.
PRMF
helps
provincial
governments upgrade and then
maintain their core road network
in provinces in Mindanao and the
Visayas. A P60 million grant from the
Australian government was used to
rehabilitate the Opol-Basak-Tingalan
road.
The program started in seven
partner provinces: Bohol, Guimaras,
Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte,
Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental and
Misamis Occidental. Recently it
expanded to Aklan, Davao del Norte
and Lanao del Norte.
While a large portion of the
program’s funds will be spent on
road rehabilitation and maintenance
in the provinces, the key focus of
the program is supporting local
governance reforms to improve
the quality and efficiency of public
service delivery to communities.
Friday, March 23, 2012

ONE MINDANAO

9

ACROSS THE NATION
Aquino still has people’s trust -Malacañang says

M

alacañang cited on Thursday the latest Pulse
Asia Survey showing 70 percent of Filipinos still
trusting President Benigno S. Aquino III, “as an
indication of support for the President’s fight
against corruption and poverty.”

In a statement read
during the regular press
briefing in Malacañang,
P r e s i d e n t i a l
Spokesperson Edwin
Lacierda said the survey
clearly shows that the
benefits of the reforms
implemented by the

10ONE MINDANAO

Aquino administration
are being felt by the
people.
“As we have always
maintained,
public
office is a public trust.
There is no greater
proof that the public
is feeling the effects of

Friday, March 23, 2012

our reforms than the
President’s sustained
trust and satisfaction
ratings,” Lacierda said.
He pointed out that
the President remains
committed to achieving
the advocacies laid out
during his Presidential

campaign:
to improve
the lives of all
Filipinos.
“We take these
results as reinforcement
to push for economic
and
institutional

reforms which will
lead to inclusive and
equitable
growth,”
Lacierda said.
The survey, which
was conducted from
February 26 to March
9, 2012 and based
on a sample of 1,200
representative adults

18 years old and
above, showed the
work done by President
Benigno S. Aquino III
(70%), Vice-President
Binay
(84%)
and
Senate President Juan
Ponce Enrile (71%) is
appreciated by most
Filipinos. (RCK)

Malacañang says wider US military presence
intended to build up Philippine defense
capabilities

M

alacañang reiterated that the decision of President
Benigno S. Aquino III to accept more American
soldiers, increase ship visits and expand military
exercises between the Philippines and the United
States is intended to strengthen the Philippines’s defense capability
to protect its borders and has nothing to do with external threats.
Friday, March 23, 2012

ONE MINDANAO

11

“ W e
have
to
update our
military training
and
capability.
As we have always
maintained, we first
acquired the Hamilton
Class Cutter for the purpose
of maritime protection
and also environmental
protection,” Presidential
Spokesman
Edwin
Lacierda said in a press
briefing in Malacanang on
Thursday.
The
President’s
Spokesman
was
responding to questions
profounded
by
Malacanang
reporters
whether the decision
of President Aquino is
related to the disputed
West
Philippine
Sea
issue.
“Our
military
hardware is quite not up to
date with our neighbors.
So it’s imperative for us
to update our military
hardware and that’s for
purposes of our protection
for our country. This
is primarily to improve
our military training and
capacity,” he added.
Lacierda stressed
that the decision of

12ONE MINDANAO

the President wasn’t
prompted by the external
threats but is intended
to ensure the Philippine
military’s capability to
protect the country’s
borders adding that some
Asean-member countries
have manifested for a
peaceful solution to the
disputed West Philippine
Sea.
He explained that
the arrangement has
legal basis and that a
new agreement isn’t
necessary.
“The
parameters
would be based on
the
Visiting
Forces
Agreement, the Mutual
Defense Treaty and also
the 1987 Constitution.
There are mechanisms
involved there. So I think
that would be the basis for
(the number of) troops
(that) will be rotated
here in the Philippines
for exercises and other
related matters,” Lacierda
said.
In an interview
with foreign media this
week, the President said
the Philippines would
welcome the entry of
more US troops in the

Friday, March 23, 2012

country on a rotational
basis but ruled out
putting up permanent
military bases.
The Philippines was
also asking the United
States to build up its
defense
capabilities,
the President said as he
emphasized that among
the country’s request
are the F-16 fighter jets,
patrol vessels, transport
aircraft
and
radar
systems.
According to the
Chief Executive, getting
modern fighter jets from
the US is a top priority
for
the
Philippines
considering that the
Philippines is one of the
most poorly-equipped in
Southeast Asia.
The
US
has
announced recently that
it is expanding its military
presence in the Asia Pacific
as a counterweight to the
rising presence of China
in the region. Last year,
it brokered a deal with
Australia to place more
troops there. It is also
expanding its maritime
presence in Singapore
and in stepping up
deployments in Thailand.
(AS)

ipolog city mayor Evelyn T.
Uy recently received the “PNP
Best Supportive Local Chief
Executive” award in recognition of her
exemplary performance.
Police Director George Q. Piano,
director for logistics of the Philippine
National Police’s (PNP) national
headquarters, personally handed the
plaques to Uy in a simple awarding
ceremony at the city police station
here.
The
PNP
leadership
has
expressed gratitude to Uy for
the support extended by the city
government to the police.
Police Provincial Director Ulpiano
C. Lopez said that aside from logistics,
operational and training supports
to the police, the city government
under the auspices of Uy has also

caused
the
rehabilitation
and
renovation of the 100 square meter
quarters at the Zamboanga del Norte
Police Provincial Office (ZNPPO) and
the construction of the two-story

city police station.
The city government also shelled
out P8 million as its counterpart
fund for the construction of the P16
million two-storey city police station
which was built on a lot also donated
by the city.
Police Director Piano, on the
other hand, said in his speech that
the police personnel in the city “are
prouder and more inspired to render
quality police service” with their new,
decent and spacious police station

adding that the “appearance of the
facility already commands respect
from anyone who enters it.”
Piano also stressed that one
indispensable factor in ensuring
efficient and effective delivery of
police service is the availability of a
decent and orderly police station.
In a related development, Uy
reported that the city has the lowest
crime rate and the highest crime
solution efficiency in the country.
(JPA/FPG/PIA-ZamboNorte)

Dumalinao acquires fire truck

by Allan June A. Molde

DUMALINAO, Zamboanga del Sur - To address the need and
growing demand of the people of Dumalinao and in keeping
with the government’s modernization scheme, the local
government of Dumalinao through the initiative of Mayor Ace
William E. Cerilles recently acquired its own fire truck.

14 ONE MINDANAO

Friday, March 23, 2012

Rev. Fr. Lucas Hadi Siswo
Sasmiti o, SCJ, Parish Priest of
Dumalinao officiated the blessing
ceremony held yesterday, March 20
which was attended by municipal and
barangay officials, employees and
a number of Dumalinaoans joined
Cerilles in the historic event.
In an interview with the Cerilles,
he disclosed that it was his dream to
have a fire truck to serve the needs
of his constituents. It was also a
long cherished dream of the people
in Dumalinao.
The town, which has no
fire station, is dependent on the
capabilities of Pagadian City and
Dinas fire stations. He added that

the people of Dumalinao are
alarmed that when fire occurs
in their town, everything would
be reduced to ashes before a fire
truck arrives since it will take
time for a truck to arrive here.
Cerilles recalled that in a
Municipal Risk Reduction and
Management Council (MRRMC)
Meeting held on May 31, 2011, the
council recognized that due to the
fast growth and development of
the municipality where migration
and influx of people has intensified,
business also boomed wherein
bigger and better stores and
commercial establishments have
flourished alongside with banks
and other financial institutions.
The MRRMC noted that with
these developments, the local
government should also take part in
bringing the much needed security
as well as better response team
when tragedies and calamities
occur. Putting everything into a
motion, the Council unanimously
approved Resolution No. 1, Series
of 2011 converting one functional
dump truck of the municipality into
a fire truck.
In response, the Sangguniang
Bayan
adopted
and
approved
Resolution No. 050-2011 which
is, â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Resolution Adopting MDC
Resolution allocating funds from the
5% Calamity Fund for the Utilization
of Pre-Disaster Activities of the
Municipality in the Amount of Php
1,000,000.00.â&#x20AC;?
At present, the local government
has already trained willing and
physically fit volunteers in some
Friday, March 23, 2012

ONE MINDANAO

15

urban barangays which compose
the Dumalinao Fire Brigade and who
are now ready to respond anytime.
This will enable the municipality to
have its own quick–response team
whenever such calamities as fire
occurs.
Perfectly timed with observance

of Fire Prevention Month this March,
all barangay captains have lauded
the efforts of the young local chief
executive. It was through his vision
and hard-work that his dream for
his constituents was realized. (JPA/
AJM-MIO/ALT/PIA9-Zambo
Sur)

800 women undergo livelihood training
By Michael Vincent D. Cajulao

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Eight hundred
(800) women from the city underwent
a two-day free simultaneous livelihood
training as part of the Women’s Month
Celebration initiated by 1st District
Representative Ma. Isabelle Climaco.
“We have made women a
priority in this livelihood caravan
of our office especially because of
the Women’s Month Celebration”,
Climaco said.
The lady solon stressed that
community-based training remains
one of her priorities to empower
women. Proof is her allocation of
P10 M for livelihood projects alone
this year.
“We equip them with skills so
they can in turn help their families
through additional income”, she said
in a press statement.
The livelihood caravan was
conducted in partnership with the
Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA)
to ensure proper training and

16 ONE MINDANAO

Friday, March 23, 2012

accreditation.
The women were trained on
basic cosmetology like manicure and
pedicure, jewelry-making, makeup and hair dressing, perfume and
candle making, silk screen printing
and fish processing.
After the training, participants
were given certificates and start-up
kits to begin with their businesses.
Climaco stressed the importance
of vocational education and vowed
to further implement it thru her
partnership with TESDA and other
organizations.
The
trainings
were
simultaneously conducted in four
separate venues to properly serve
the
beneficiaries.
(JPA/MVC/
PIA9-ZBST)

March is a celebration of the productivity
of women according to Ozamiz mayor

M

By Rutchie C. Aguhob

arch is actually a
celebration of the
productivity of women
in the community, said Mayor Nova
Princess E. Parojinog-Echavez, the
first woman chief executive of the
city, to the more than 3,000 women
who attended the activity relative
to the Women’s Month of March at
the Congressman Hilarion J. Ramiro
Gym, this city.
Mostly beneficiaries of the
Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program
(4P’s), the women came from the
city’s 51 barangays, with the Muslim
Women’s Association of Barangay
Tinago as the 52nd group.
“This
is
something
that
responds to this year’s theme of
the Women’s Month Celebration:
Women weathering climate change:
governance
and
accountability,
everyone’s responsibility,” the mayor
said.
She said the activity was indeed

an acknowledgement of the many
contributions of women in our society
and encouraged all women to continue
to participate, not only in the activities
of the family, but also in the activities
of the barangays where they live.
Meanwhile,
Association
of
Barangay
Councils
President,
Reynaldo O. Paarojinog, Sr. of
Ozamiz City stressed the significant
role that women play in community
development.
Friday, March 23, 2012

ONE MINDANAO

17

“While the men do their work
outside the homes, it is always the
women who are left to take care of
the children and the household. If
not for the women, there will be no
communities. So we must all take
care of our women and be responsive
to their needs,” he said.
Organized by the City Social
Welfare and Development (CSWD)
Office, headed by Ludie Salud A.
Raras, CSWD Officer, in cooperation

with the Local Council of Women
Activities, the day was highlighted
by the presentation of a mixture of
folk, ethnic and modern dances by
the various women’s groups. It also
included the selection of the 2012
Queen of the Women’s Month.
Raras also thanked the mayor
for extending a P1,000 financial
assistance to each barangay for the
celebration.

Tax collections in NorMin up by 14% in 2011
by Apipa P. Bagumbaran

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - Tax collections by the Bureau of Internal
Revenue (BIR) in Northern Mindanao last year was recorded at P5.8
billion, higher by 14 percent from the P5.1 billion collections in the year
2010.
This was disclosed by Engr. Cecilio
Clarete, chief economic development
specialist of National Economic and
Development Authority (NEDA) in
Region 10, during the media forum
on the regional economic situationer
held at the NEDA Conference Room.
He said the improvement in
collections was reportedly due to the
BIR’s intensive implementation of its
programs such as the Oplan Kandado
and the Run After Tax Evaders.
Based on the data furnished by
the BIR Revenue District Region 16,
income taxes accounted for the largest
share of its tax collections with P3.7
billion followed by collections from
Value Added Taxes with P1.4 billion,
he further said.
He added that percentage taxes
and excise taxes were recorded at P306

18 ONE MINDANAO

Friday, March 23, 2012

million and P1.8 million, respectively,
while collections from other taxes
amounted to P394 million.
Clarete said Cagayan de Oro City
remains the top collection district of
the region which posted P3.3 billion
collections, sharing 42 percent of the
total collections.
Iligan City District Office ranked
second with P911 million collections
followed by Bukidnon with P818
million, Ozamiz City with P560 million,
and Gingoog City with P229 million.
In terms of increases in
collections, Iligan City recorded
the highest increase of 21 percent
followed by Ozamiz and Bukidnon
both by 19 percent, Gingoog City by
15 percent, and Cagayan de Oro City
by 10 percent.

4ID campaigns on elimination of
elephantiasis
CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City - The 4th Infantry
“Diamond” Division conducted elephantiasis elimination campaign at
the Division’s Gymnasium, March 14.
A total of 895 personnel of the
division, their dependents and other
residents inside the camp received
medicines such as prophylaxis for
lymphatic filariasis to eliminate
permanent disfigurement and longterm disability.
Lymphatic filariasis, also known
as elephantiasis, is a disease that
is characterized by the thickening
of the skin and underlying tissues,
especially in the legs and male
genitals. In some cases, the disease
can cause certain body parts, such
as the scrotum, to swell to the size
of a softball or basketball.
The
disease
is caused by the
thread-like parasitic
worms
such
as
Wuchereria bancrofti,
Brugia malayi, and
B. timori, all of which
are transmitted by
mosquitoes.
One
hundred
twenty million people
in the world are
infected with this
disease
while
40
million of them were

incapacitated by it.
In the Philippines, 30 out of
80 provinces in the country are
endemic to lymphatic filariasis,
which has been the reason for this
campaign to eliminate the disease.
“We had done so many medical
missions, but let us not forget to
care for the health of our personnel
and those who are close to our
hearts. There is no vaccine for this
disease that is why it is better to
prevent its occurrence as early as
possible,” MGen. Victor A. Felix AFP,
Commander, 4ID, said. (4ID)

Friday, March 23, 2012

ONE MINDANAO

19

Modest financing boosts rice farming
in Davao Sur

F

armers here have adequate
irrigation and postharvest
facilities but lack of financing is a
major productivity setback.
“Although
necessary
infrastructure where already in
place, we cannot go full blast in
rice production as it would require

20 ONE MINDANAO

Friday, March 23, 2012

us financial capital
for labor and farm
inputs,” said Gamiel
Portarcos.
Portarcos who
is the president
of the Sitio New
Talisay
–
New
Clarin
Irrigators
Association
said
they have no option
but to turn to nonformal lenders to
overcome financial
constraints.
While
he
recognized
that
non-formal lenders
helped
them
addressed
their
needs for the whole cropping season
oftentimes small farmers are in the
losing end.
“Non-formal lenders collect
high interest rates usually from 10 to
15 percent,” Portarcos said adding:
“Most of the non-formal lenders

are also traders and require
farmers to sell their produce only
to them. This practice usually
shortchanged our farmers as they
can no longer dictate the buying
price.”
Portarcos said bulk of their
income from rice farming goes to
the repayment of their loans from
traders with only meager amount
left usually not enough to fund the
production for the next cropping
season.
“So we have no option but
to again borrow money from nonformal lenders. Murag wala na’y
katapusan (It becomes a vicious
cycle),” he said.
He
stressed
insufficient
financing limits some farmers to
expand production for fear of having
to pay higher interest rates.
The prospect of earning
better in rice farming came
when their municipal agriculture
office endorsed their irrigators’
association
as
one
of
the
beneficiaries of the Mindanao
Rural
Development
Program
(MRDP).
MRDP is a long term poverty
alleviation
initiative
of
the
Department of Agriculture (DA)
with a funding assistance from the
World Bank.
Through
the
Community
Fund for Agricultural Development
(CFAD), the program’s livelihood
component, their association was
able to access a funding assistance
of at least P250, 000.00.
The funds they have availed
themselves of were used to develop an

interest-free package of assistance
amounting to P25, 000. The said
package is a combination of cash
and farm inputs. Since members
observe
synchronous
farming
(planting rice simultaneously) the
release of assistance was based
on the farming activities within the
production cycle.
“Our ultimate goal was to
enable our members to break-free
from their continuing dependence
on trader-lenders in financing their
farming activities. With this, the
association does not only provide
inputs but also cash assistance
as there are activities like land
preparation that requires money
instead of inputs. If money is not
available at this time, they would
still resort to borrowing from nonformal lenders to catch-up with the
planting season,” he said.
“Members can avail of cash
assistance
only
during
land
preparation
and
transplanting.
Seeds can be withdrawn from the
PO during seed preparation while
fertilizers and insecticides will
be released as the need arises,”
Portarcos explained.
“For other farming activities,
inputs will be made available
instead of cash to ensure that the
assistance will go to its intended
purpose such as fertilizer and
insecticides,” he added.
At the end of every cropping
season, each member are required
to return the total amount of the
package of assistance he has availed
himself of plus the P2,000.00 capital
share which is a meager repayment
Friday, March 23, 2012

ONE MINDANAO

21

compared to the interest imposed
by non-formal lenders. They were
made to realize that the sustainability
of their livelihood project relies on
their repayment.
“Since
we
have
availed
ourselves of the CFAD assistance in
Nov ember 2009, we have at least
collected a savings mobilization
of P57, 332.00.
We have also
increased our revolving fund from
P250, 000.00 to P282, 332.00.
Our farmers have also increased
their average yield from barely 60
sacks [at 60 kg/sack] to 120 sacks,”
Portorcas said.
“Our income now allows us to
support schooling of our children
while some expanded their rice
production
including
livestock
raising for added income,” said
Rizalde Palermo, the association’s
vice president.
“The assistance we received
from MRDP enabled us to recover
from huge debts incurred from
non-formal lenders. We are glad
that MRDP as well as our local
government provided us the window
of opportunity to break-free from
the vicious cycle of unfair financial
arrangements from trader-lenders,”
Portarcos said.
The association also agreed
that for the next cropping season
they will apply for a crop insurance
to ensure they collect capital share
even if the farms is affected by
calamities or damaged by pest.
MRDP program director Lealyn
Ramos for her part said she is glad
that out of the modest financial
assistance provided by the program
rice farmers in New Clarin are
making headway in improving their

22 ONE MINDANAO

Friday, March 23, 2012

income.
“Given the increasing demand
to secure the supply of our staple
food, the challenge now is how to
make rice production more profitable
so that we can entice more farmers
to sustain rice farming,” Ramos
said.
Aside
from
providing
infrastructure and livelihood support
to our small farmers, MRDP she
said is also building the capacities
of farmers to maximize their
productivity.
“Rice farmers in New Clarin
exemplify how the program’s
community-driven
development
approach would not only address
the beneficiaries felt need but also
enabled them to be self-reliant as
they are no longer dependent on
traders to finance their farming
expenses,” she added.
Portarcos said their association
seeks to further improve their rice
farming activities with several plans
that would enhance their productivity.
He is optimistic that that sooner
they will not just sell their palay but
will eventually produce and sell rice
for better profit.
As they continue with their
rice farming activities he urged their
association officers and members to
keep their financial resources wellguarded as they are not sure if the
same livelihood opportunity will
come by.
“Now that we have liberated
ourselves from burden of paying
high interest credit, we have to
sustain our project not only increase
our income but to reach out to other
small farmers,’ he said. (MRDPPR)

Davao Light may conduct rotating
brownouts
30-minute rotating
outages due to
the reserve power
supply that it has
contracted
from
Independent
Power
Producers
(IPPs) as part of its
contingency plans
to address power
shortages.
The electricutility
has
contracted energy
power
supply
from Hedcor Inc.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
Sibulan and Talomo
Hydroelectric
power plants. It
also has power
supply agreement
with Therma Marine

DAVAO CITY- After being able to
avoid the rotating power outages
for the past two months, Davao
Light and Power Company may
now be forced to implement
rotating brownouts within its
franchise as the National Grid
Corporation of the Philippines
(NGCP) has announced an increase
in the Mindanao-wide power
curtailment at a level of 320 MW.

Inc. (TMI).
Davao Light also maintains on
hot standby a Bunker C-fired standby
power plant in Bajada.
Without the contracted power
supply, customers would have been
experiencing 2 to 3 hours of daily
interruptions.
However, these power supply
contracts can only support up to 280
MW of Mindanao-wide curtailment.
While other areas in Mindanao
Beyond this, Davao Light will be
have reportedly been experiencing
implementing the 30-minute rotating
long duration of brownouts, Davao
power interruptions.(pr)
Light customers may only experience
Friday, March 23, 2012

ONE MINDANAO

23

So. Cotabato retains title as CRAA champion
by Dani Doguiles
KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato —For the second year in a row, South
Cotabato’s athletic delegation clinched the championship title of the
Cotabato Regional Athletic Association (CRAA) Meet held here from March
18 to 21.

24 ONE MINDANAO

Friday, March 23, 2012

Summary of results
released by
CRAA
2012 chief recorder
Christopher
Frusa
showed
that
South
Cotabato
garnered
a
total
of
621
points besting 2010
champion
General
Santos
City, which
earned 507 points.
Cotabato
Province
and
Koronadal City
were second runner
up and third runner
up,
respectively.
The host province’s
lead came from boys’
and
girls’
athletics
in
elementary
and
high
school
where
it
got 120 points.
It also
showed
supremacy in softball,
swimming,
and
volleyball in elementary
girls as
well as
baseball,
basketball,
and
volleyball
in
elementary
boys.
Its
high school
contingent
reigned
in
boxing
(boys)
and
tennis (girls).
First
runner
up
General Santos City won
first place in elementary
girls’
women’s
artistic
gymnastics,
rhythmic gymnastics,
Taekwondo; secondary
boys’
chess,
men’s
artistic
gymnastics,

taekwondo;
and,
secondary
girls’
basketball,
chess,
rhythmic
gymnastic,
women’s
artistic
g y m n a s t i c s ,
and
taekwondo.
South
Cotabato
schools district physical
education
supervisor
Pedro Dajay attributed
their victory to the
discipline
that
the
athletes have shown.
The
provincial
government
earlier
alloted P350,000 for
the incentives of winning
athletes but because
South Cotabato players
performed better than
expected , the budget
was
insufficient
to
cover for the prizes for
the winners originally
promised
them.
“Instead of P3,000,
gold medalists were

only
given P1,000,”
Dajay said.
Silver
medal winners received
P700 instead of P1,000
while those who won
bronze received P500.
However, Dajay said
they
have already
asked for additional
allocation
for this
purpose
from
the
provincial government.
“We
will
give
additional
incentive
to
winning athletes
once the
provincial
government approves
our request for extra
funds,” he promised.
On
his part, Gov.
Arthur
Y.
Pingoy
said he has already
considered
allocating
more funds to pay for
the incentives of the
athletes and
added
that
he has already
talked with Vice Gov.

Friday, March 23, 2012

ONE MINDANAO

25

Elmo Tolosa regarding
sources of funds for this.
He also congratulated
the officials, coaches and
athletes for retaining
the championship title
but
also
challenged
them achieve the same
feat next year; he also
implied
willingness to

host the regional sports
meet for the third year.
More than 100 athletes
from South Cotabato
have
qualified
to
represent Soccsksargen
region in the Palarong
Pambansa in Lingayen,
Pangasinan
in
May.
Although
the
actual

number of
athletes
that will compose the
region’s delegation has
yet to be ascertained,
Dajay
assured
that
the largest
bulk
of
athletes
will
come
from the host province.
(DEDoguiles/PIA 12)

LGU-Gensan to conduct newsletter layout
training for local media practitioners
by Pops Gumana-Fruylan
GENERAL SANTOS CITY—The City Government here has scheduled a one
day training on “Basic Newsletter Layouting” for local media practitioners.
City
Media
Affairs
Officer, Avel Manansala
said the free training
which is scheduled on
April 13 is open to all
TV, broadcast, and print
journalists
who
are
willing to be trained by
personnel of the SHEEPComputer
Literacy
Program (CLP).
“SHEEP-CLP
is
currently
intensifying
its technology trainings
to cater all sectors
of the society to be
globally-competitive,
from
students,
to
professionals,
senior
citizens,
out-of-school
youths, and now they are

26 ONE MINDANAO

going to train our local
journalists,” he said.
Manansala disclosed
that media participants
will also be taught on
how to use “Photoshop”
to
enhance
their
knowledge in photoediting and realize their
creative capability in the
visual graphics realm.
“Through this training
media practitioners in
the city will be wellrounded. Aside from
their
knowledge
in
writing and broadcasting
they will also learn to
appreciate the work
of a layout artist and
explore the potential of

Friday, March 23, 2012

IT-related businesses,”
he explained.
SHEEP-CLP
head,
Percival Pasuelo revealed
that they have allocated
an initial ten slots for
the said training on a
first come first serve
basis, and interested
participants may contact
the City Media Affairs
Office
for
possible
reservation.
However,
Pasuelo
clarified that there will
be a series of level-up
trainings in the coming
days to accommodate
more interested media
participants.
Meanwhile,
KBP-

SarGen President, James
Catalan expressed elation
over the conduct of
the said training as he
thanked Mayor Darlene
Antonino-Custodio
for
what he described as a
“great move of the city
government to support

the welfare of local
journalists.”
Catalan said the training
will really open doors for
media practitioners as
this will not only increase
their marketability but
they can possibly earn a
livable income through

it.

“This is a big help
especially to those who
are still planning to putup and already starting
with their own newspaper
and online businesses,”
he said. (PGFruylan/
PIA-Gensan)

oint forces of national armed and environmental
authorities confiscated an estimated 1.1 million
board feet of logs and fletches, worth about P14.9
million here in Caraga region.

www.piacaraga.blogspot.com

28 ONE MINDANAO

http://www.facebook.com/pages/PIA-Caraga-Updates/165374590187484

Friday, March 23, 2012

piacaraga@gmail.com
pia_caraga@yahoo.com.ph

These
operations
to
bust
illegal
logging
activities
and
environmental
laws
violations
were
done together by the
Philippine National Police,
Department of Natural
Resources and the Armed
Forces of the Philippines.
They were also assisted
by
the
Presidential
Anti-Organized
Crime
Commission.
The seized forest
products were then turned
over in a ceremony presided
by Department of Interior
and Local Government
Undersecretary for Peace
and Order Rico E. Puno. It
was held this morning at

Camp Rafael C. Rodriguez,
this city.
The ceremonial turnover of the confiscated
forest
products
was
presided over by DILG
Undersecretary Rico E.
Puno, which was held this
morning at Camp Rafael
C. Rodriguez, this city.
Puno said that even if
the recent disaster brought
by tropical storm Sendong
was of natural occurrence,
it “was aggravated and
made worse by human
interference to nature.”
According to him,
the move was part of
the reform measures on
environmental protection
and law enforcement by
the national leadership.

He
also
said
government regulations
on the utilization of our
natural resources are the
first line of defense against
“people who raped our
forests.”
As part of the same
measure, the authorities
initiated the forfeiture
proceedings
of
the
said confiscated forest
products by its anti-illegal
logging teams during 159
separate operations in a
span of 15-months here
in the region.
A total of 85 suspected
illegal logging violators
were apprehended in these
operations, according to
Caraga PNP Director CSupt.
Reynaldo S. Rafal, while
DENR regional officials
estimated the confiscated
wood products to need
some 110 truckloads to
haul.
Puno said the wood
products that have been
forfeited in favor of the
government, which will
be made into school
desks for public schools in
Caraga region. It will be
used also to build shelters
and outposts for the PNP
maneuver units in the
region.

DAPA, Surigao del Norte
-- The Department
of Public Works and
Highways – Siargao
District Engineering Office
endorsed a P804.1 million
budget for the 2013
DPWH Infrastructure
Program for Siargao
Island.
The
program
will develop the road
system of the country’s
surfing
and
gamefishing capital.
This move was done
through Surigao del
Norte 1st District Rep.
Francisco T. Matugas
with the full support of
local executives.
Projects included
in the program are
the construction of
Osmeña-Pilar viaduct
and
concreting
of
unpaved road sections
along Junction OsmeñaPilar Road, Junction
Cancohoy-Pilar Road,

30 ONE MINDANAO

Junction Del CarmenSta. Monica-San Isidro
Road,
Dapa-UnionGeneral Luna Road,
and at the Siargao
Circumferential
Road
sections in Brgy. Union,
Dapa and Catangnan,
General Luna.
Meanwhile, District
Engr. Salvador E. Montil,
Jr. said the proposed
projects are part of
the government’s plan
to completely pave
national roads, which
lead to various tourist
destinations in the
island.
Of
the
total

Friday, March 23, 2012

153.036
kilometers
(km) national roads,
66.85 km ere already
concrete paved during
the past years.
This past year,
an additional 3.675
km were paved by
end
of
December.
Also under the 2011
DPWH Stimulus Funds/
Additional
Priority
Projects, another 8.014
km will be concrete
paved during this year.
For
the
2012
infrastructure
allocation, a total road
length of 18.66 km is
targeted to be paved.

The SEP is a rural
electrification program of
the government aimed to
energize far-flung areas
throughout the country.
Late last year, the
NEA, in partnership with
96 electric cooperatives
nationwide had already
energized 1, 520 sitios,
benefiting some 33, 189
households.
For the Agusan del
Norte Electric Cooperative
(ANECO) alone, 35 sitios
were already energize,
benefiting
2,
086
households.
This year, ANECO is
targeting more than 2, 156
households.
The
seven
electric cooperatives in
Northeastern
Mindanao

(Caraga
region)
have
already energized more
than 102 far-flung sitios
and puroks.
“We are committed
to energize more far-flung
sitios and puroks in the
coming months as part of
our commitment to help
the Aquino Administration’s
SEP program,” ANECO
general manager (GM) and
president of the association
of Caraga region electric
cooperatives
Architect
Horacio T. Santos said.
There are 32,403
sitios all over the country
without power. The bulk
of the fund amounting
to P116.9 million will go
to Northern Mindanao to
electrify 184 sitios. Bicol

Region is allotted P84.8
million to energize 136
sitios while P74.4 million
will go to the Caraga region
to power up 103 sitios.
Meanwhile, in an effort
to have uninterrupted power
supply in the future, the
ANECO on Saturday inked
a 25-year Memorandum
of Agreement (MOA) for a
10 megawatt power supply
from the Sarangani Energy
Corporation, starting 2015.
The
ceremonial
signing
of
agreement
was presented by Santos,
ANECO board president
Dioscoro P. Boco, Sarangani
Vice President- Business
department
Joseph
C.
Nocos and Sarangani Head
for Marketing Edgardo C.
Calabio.